Thirty-eight local college students now have the basic training to handle a rescue medevac mission.

Oil and gas field operations and power engineering students at Northern Lights College got some hands-on experience with a fully equipped rescue medevac helicopter earlier this month.

The college says Highland Helicopters landed a Euro Copter A-Star at the simulated well site at the Fort St. John campus Sept. 20, where students received an helicopter orientation and lessons in flight theory, machine mechanics and more. Students also worked with instructor Mike Seinen and Highland pilot Sean Whitford to learn how to properly board and load a helicopter.